“Atanacio Marin...typifies the soldiers that come from California. So many of them are from Los Angeles and surrounding areas, so many have stories like 'Nacho' has: one in which he was born in Mexico; one in which his family came here for a better life...”— Rep. Darrell Issa, (R-Vista)

Marin was born in a small Mexican village. His father came to the U.S. to pick fruit and work construction to support his wife and seven children, according to the Pasadena Star-News. When Marin was 2, they joined their father. In 2007, the Baldwin Park Post Office was renamed in Marin's honor.

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14 memories of Atanacio Haro Marin Jr.

“

It was saddening to know that I had found a long lost relative, but at the same time find out he died defending our country.

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— M.M., May 26, 2008 at 8:31 a.m.
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Nacho was a friend of mine at Lincoln High, we hung out together at lunch with a group of us that were in marching band. I found out about his passing some time after it happened, and I was very sad to hear the news. He was a very funny guy with a great sense of humor.

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— Jorge Rosas, May 26, 2008 at 3:56 p.m.
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Our family lived houses apart from the Haro family in Lincoln Heights. My brother ("Pepe") ran around the neighorhood with Nacho and other kids their age. I remember Nacho being a great, good hearted young man. I heard about Nacho's passing soon after it happened and was very saddened by the news. Even now, 5 years later, I can't believe or understand how such a tragedy happened and what great loss this was for the Haro family. To Nacho and all the servicemen/women who did not make it home: THANK YOU ALL SOOOOO VERY MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DID AND GAVE FOR ALL OF US, YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.

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— Veronica Sanchez, July 17, 2008 at 11:43 a.m.
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My primo was a kid at heart, but a very honorable and responsible man. If you knew him like I did, then you would understand why I miss him so much. Nacho loved to have family gatherings at his home, so each time he came home everyone would go over to his home to have a family gathering including those family friends and neighbors. Each time he left, he would go to everyone's homes to say goodbye. The last time he was at our home, I refused to say goodbye to him because I thought that if I refused, he would have to come back home. But to my deep regret, he never did. So to this very day when I talk about Nacho, I shed tears of pain and sorrow, I love him and I miss him very much.

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— Carla Marin, August 14, 2008 at 6:44 p.m.
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I remember Nacho when we were kids playing baseball on Hancock Street in Lincoln Heights in the 80's. About 15 years later, he was on leave from the army and I had the opportunity to speak to him while he was visiting his friends Manuel,Nelson and "Tower". He talked about his time on the grenade range, chucking grenades dropped from the hands of nervous recruits. He had come a long way and I was proud to call him a fellow veteran. I was saddened to hear about his passing but I'm proud that a post office bears his name.

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— Sergio Vizcarra, October 29, 2008 at 2:55 p.m.
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I called him simply Haro . I met him in the gaurd ,he was a good honest kid when I met him . When I heard his name that fateful morning I knew in my heart I new this person.Later on at work my nephew came to my work to share the bad news and when I seen my nephew I was sure of who it was. It was saddening to me cause he was so young ,and he always asked me so many questions about my tour in the gulf.One day in the gaurd the capt. asked if anybody could land a chopper to pick us up for advanced party .I said yes we landed a chopper and he got to ride with me ,he said thank you Delgado this was his first time ever in a chopper.I sometimes wish Id have never landed that chopper,cause after that day he always spoke about it ,its hard to explain the pain when you see people go this way.I was told Delgado when advance party leaves ,when we were in the gaurd ,Haro is next to you always,and i kept him there by my side always when it was time. Wish I couldve been there when he did his tour.Its strange how we grieve for fallen commrades ,I hope you all know ,he is with God now .He couldnt be anywhere else he was a very humble kid and very honest .Airborne In His Heart .DELGADO

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— DElGADO, May 27, 2009 at 9:56 a.m.
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Like Sgt. Haro, I my self was born in Mexico, lived in Lincoln Heights and join the US Army. Even though I never meet you. You made all of us mexican service man and women pround. May God bless you and your family.

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— Sgt. Orozco, May 28, 2010 at 1:59 a.m.
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When the Haro family arrived to the block. We the loco kids quickly befriended Nacho and cheese,(Carlos) his younger brother. We would play baseball,football,soccer,cops and robbers.Nacho always carried himself a bit different, although only 1 year older than us. Manuel ,Jose (pepe),Frank and I would eat nutrition along with Nacho in Lincoln High.Nacho demonstrated leadership and disciplinary qualities as an adolescent, quickly scolding you, if you were on the wrong. So many stories like in Christmas time ,his Mom made the best tamales en salsa verde,roja we would all just head over to their house and eat tamales and converse with his cousins. Nacho was the fastest of us kids ,practically running a mile during a game of cops &robbers just to show you who was the best. He moved to Baldwin Park to complete his senior year of high school there. But the very few years he spent in Lincoln Heights,were truly unforgettable.. Nacho you instilled a part of you in us.. Never will be forgotten

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— Nelson Ornelas, May 29, 2010 at 5:33 p.m.
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I remember growing up in Baldwin Park - at the city's center was Morgan Park, adorned with a black marble monument to our hometown's fallen of WW II. Today, I seek out to remember the modern day fallen brave men and women like U.S. Army Sergeant Atanacio Haro Marin, Jr., who gave to us his ultimate sacrifice. What I believe makes Sgt. Marin's sacrifice so significant is that he was born in Mexico and loved our great and wonderful nation so much that he made it his own to love and to serve - and to die for.

In the immortal message of President Abraham Lincoln given at Gettysburg, PA in 1863; please know that you have not died in vain, rather, it is for us the living to continue the unfinished work of our military heroes.

May God grant you eternal rest Sgt. Marin and may God bless America.

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— Gil Pacheco, May 31, 2010 at 8:16 a.m.
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I lived a few houses from him and talked tii him on a daily basis as i new the family well. have good memories of nacho. You are missed and never forgotton, thank you for all you did.

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— Juan Quinones, May 27, 2015 at 3:08 p.m.
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One hell of a soldier and warrior I never got to serve with him but boy he was a patriot head to toe

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— Ricardo serrano, February 7, 2017 at 7:34 a.m.
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I had the privilege of having Sgt Haro as one of my Sgt's when I just joined the Army back in 2002. From the beginning he took me under his wing and showed me what a Sgt should be. Right now I have been serving for about 15 years now and have achieved the rank of SFC and I told myself I will carry on his legacy of how he took care of me when I was a young Soldier. When we lost him in Iraq it was the hardest thing I have had to experience by loosing a Sgt but much worst loosing a brother that showed me and all others that came in contact with him how a human being can be and how to exemplify what a Sgt should be. I'll always remember him from the first day I meet him until the very last minutes I saw him that night in Iraq. Sgt Haro Thank you for your support and leadership you have instilled and showed me and all others when you were here with us. Will remember you always brother Sgt Haro!

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— Francisco Alcala, March 10, 2017 at 12:42 a.m.
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I was SGT Haro's Battery Commander at Ft. Hood and in Iraq. I will never forget the caller the radio that evening. We knew that there was contact at the platoon check point and they were fighting. The quick reaction force left for the scene. When I arrived they had already evacuated SGT Haro and another wounded soldier. It was several hours later after we tried to chase the enemy down when I was told the he had died of his wounds. He was an amazing soldier and friend to all in the battery. He could run circle around everyone in PT and still be smiling. I always laughed about his East LA jokes. I was never more proud than when he invited me to his swearing in ceremony when he officially became a US Citizen. Unfortunately that was less than a year before we deployed and he never got to enjoy fully the freedoms he fought for. We loved him and miss him. RIP SGT Atanacio "Nacho" Haro-Marin. Cyclone 6 (ancient), LTC Carl Poppe

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— Carl Poppe, March 25, 2017 at 11:36 p.m.
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I had served in the corps prior to joining the army and my first day in Charlie battery not one soldier or NCO said one word to me. Standing waiting to PT the first person to say something was nacho and from that point on he was someone I enjoyed to talk to everyday till the night we lost him. He relieved me the night we fell under attack and I think of him everyday and will never forget him or that whistle. He was a true brother to everyone he met and the best NCO in our battery. Don't worry be happy

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— Patrick Hopper, September 28, 2017 at 7:25 p.m.

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